The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-07-29

mere curiosity ! lsel; III . sort a
melancholy duty. Now you're hera
I'll get you 70 watch over me-"
OF what new absurdity was Campbell
about % be guiltyP Il Wa bid enough
thathe should bring unpleasant proofs
Of his philan.i ropy 20 that peaceful
place. the Rics and Curry Club; IL was
worse that he should drag me, . pro-
fessional man. gratuitously that We
the extra sting TO it--and in the middle
Of the night 70 an abominable Chinese
den at the East end Of London. But
now he put climax 70 his wickedness
BY asking me TO watch over him. - Il
! were guardian angel I never felt
less like guardian angel in my life.
was about to Indignantly refuse
II sent away the cab" said Camp
bell. coolly.
Horror! we were then TO stop hers
till morning! for there was certainly
nc getting away from the place except
in . cab. I had recently seen the
"Romany Rye" and the awful horrors,
Of the East end Of London 1t midni CHIT
were fresh in my mind. Who knows
but that had been decoyed here BY
Campbell? He might b my illegiti-
mate brother, who had brought me
here 70 murder me. and was an un-
armed man! The remembrance Of Mr..
Wilson Barrett's frantic struggles
flashed through me. Alas! had seen
for myself that the very horrible per-
sons on the Princess stage were no
exaggeration. was evidently in for
it, but determined that nothing should
decoy me into those dreadful streets.
Of which, from our cab window. l had
already seen more than enough.
But Campbell proceeded to reassure
me. my dear fellow. he said, ..you
seem uncomfortable. but there is moth
ing TO be- alarmed about; all / want
you to do is to look after me profess
sionally. am about to make an ex-
pertinent, BY trying for myself what
the much-vaunted delights Of opium
smoking really are These poor fell
lows" he said. with . sympathizing
glance at the disgusting corpse-like OBJ
jects. who lay about in every direction.
always tell me that il l only tried Il
once. ! should do as they do. feel
that could speak TO them with more
authority Il ! had really made the ex-
pertinent. and now is my opportunity.
shall ask my host to supply me with
a pipe Of his beAopium."
He turned to adiabolical looking old
Chinaman who sat crouching on the
floor. warming his attenuated fingers
over an earthcn pot filled with live
charcoal. and addressed him in his ma
tive language. / did not understand
what they said, they smiled. grinned
and gesticulated. and saw that it was
no use to argue with Campbell. HI
deliberately took OF his coat and col.
lar. and undid the top button Of his
shirt; then he calmly proceeded TO liz
down BY the side Of one Of the revolt
ing objects on the great wooden bed
stead. which formed the only furniture
in the scrdid room
The Chinaman produced from hi
breast a rather more elaborate pip'
than those l had yet seen. II WA
about six inches long; the bowl wa'
formed Of tiny saucer Of siIy err. th'
sire II shilling. From small meta
box the old man proceeded to charge
It with opium; he then lighted it, drew
liz into action with his own disgusting
mouth. and with : low obeisance
handed il to Campbell, who proceeded
at once to inhale the abomination.
In few minutes he dropped of. ant
the same idiotic appearance which wa
conspicuous on the faces Of the Other
sleepcrs was visible on my friend
face. He snorcd heavily. Scvcra
times placed my hand upon hi
pulse. but there was nothing to alarm
me; be simply slept the heavy slecE
which is always produced BY large
dose Of the drug.
There sat till day broke watching
the man. One BY one the various
slecpers awakened, shook themselves
together. and without noticing me
staggered out Of the room At eight
O'Clock Campbell came to life again
He was like half-drunkcn man, but
in q little time he pulled himself to
gcther. and then he sent the Chinamar
for cab. The man was . long while
gone. for there are not many cabs,
fancy, to be found at early morning In
that part Of London.
IL can quite understand their infa
tuation." he said to me. with sigh d
regret. - have been in the seventh
heaven" he continued, as he rubbed
His eyes. 1T was glorious
4 Now comes the painful part Of NJ,
story. From that moment Campbell
became = confirmed opium-smokr
He used to worry me by the hour will
the description ofhis horrible pleasures
Day BY day Campbell got thinner. vel
lower. and more haggard-looking
Wugsby. who had long ago christenet
him tho "Heathen Chince." declarcs
that his eyes turned up at the corners
and that he was growing . pig-tail